What to Do in High BP

Hypertension is a common condition that can come with age and an unhealthy lifestyle. Individuals with hypertension may not have any symptoms, which is why regular blood pressure (BP) checkup is essential. This is a crucial step towards hypertension treatment. If left untreated for long, hypertension can result in life-threatening complications like stroke or heart attack. Another thing that people often do not know is that there are different types of hypertension or high blood pressure conditions. Thus, each type has a different blood pressure treatment and a set of tips for patients.

Types Of Hypertension

Different types of hypertension are:

• Primary hypertension
• Secondary hypertension
• White-coat hypertension
• Masked hypertension
• Accelerated hypertension
• Malignant hypertension
• Hypertensive emergency
• Isolated systolic hypertension
• Resistant hypertension
• Pseudo hypertension

What To Do In High BP?

This is a rattling question everyone has. That’s because high blood pressure is a “silent killer” as it often shows no symptoms but poses a major risk for heart disease and stroke.The good news is that if you’re experiencing elevated blood pressure, a few lifestyle changes can significantly reduce your numbers and lower your risk. All this can be done without the need for medications.So if you’re wondering what to do in high BP, here’s what you can do!

Lifestyle Modification Tips For Hypertension Patients

The most important step towards controlling hypertension is to consult your doctor and work out a thorough treatment plan.

1. Diet

   A high-sodium and low-potassium diet contribute to the rise in blood pressure levels. A high blood pressure diet should, therefore, consist of higher potassium intake and lesser sodium intake. However, a potassium-rich diet may be harmful to people with kidney diseases and patients of resistant hypertension and hypertensive emergency. The best thing to do is to consult your doctor or ask a nutritionist for a personalized diet plan to maintain normal blood pressure.

2. Regular Exercise

   Exercise for high blood pressure helps in keeping a person active and maintaining healthy blood flow in the body. A person need not perform rigorous exercises. Rather, simply walking and jogging every day for a minimum of 40-45 minutes can be beneficial to lower blood pressure.

3. Maintaining Weight

   Being overweight can add to the blood pressure trouble. Hence, maintaining weight is beneficial for every type of hypertension. Exercise for high blood pressure and a healthy diet help in maintaining a healthy weight and Body Mass Index (BMI).

4. Lifestyle

   Adopting a healthier lifestyle is today’s need. Strictly avoiding smoking and alcohol along with cutting down on unhealthy diet is essential for people with hypertension. Both smoking and alcohol not only harm the body in the long run but also cause an immediate increase in blood pressure.

5. Stress Management

   Stress has immediate as well as long-term effects and adds to hypertension. Doctors often recommend stress management to hypertension patients. Meditation and yoga are two ways to manage stress, especially for people with white-coat and masked hypertension. Other stress-relieving measures that help in reducing stress and blood pressure include deep breathing, sauna bath, and therapies like acupuncture. Keeping calm in situations of stress is necessary for people with hypertension.

6. Regular Monitoring

   Regularly monitoring blood pressure is as important as a healthy diet and regular exercise. Not keeping a regular check on blood pressure may lead to a much higher rise in BP, causing severe complications like a heart attack or stroke. Malignant hypertension and hypertensive emergency may be detected early and managed effectively with regular BP monitoring.

Go For BP-Lowering Supplements

There are special supplements available in the market which have shown promise for lowering blood pressure: These can be easily availed without any prescriptions.

• Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid
• Whey protein
• Magnesium
• Coenzyme Q10
• Citrulline

Eat Foods Rich In Magnesium

Magnesium is a vital mineral that helps blood vessels relax. While magnesium deficiency is pretty rare, many people prone to hypertension don’t get enough. You can increase the magnesium intake by adding vegetables, dairy products, legumes, chicken, meat, and whole grains, to your daily diet.

Cut Down On Caffeine

Caffeine is known to temporarily raise blood pressure levels, after consumption. It lasts for about 45 to 60 minutes and the reaction varies from person to person Although, some people may be more sensitive to caffeine than others. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, you may want to cut back on your coffee consumption or try decaffeinated beverages.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a medical condition that can cause serious complications if not given proper medical attention and care. A little discipline and care is what it takes to manage any type of hypertension. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and regular BP monitoring are essential in today’s life. To know more about hypertension and how to control it, check out our other articles. Note of Caution: This article is for information purpose only. Always consult your doctor in case of any blood pressure or other health-related problems.